Health Benefits of Biotin

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Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that does wonders for the human body. It is the other name for vitamin H or vitamin B7. It is one of the eight B vitamins and can be made by bacteria in the intestine. It plays a key role in many biological processes and keeps you energized. Yes, biotin is responsible for production of energy in the body. It does a host of things for your body.

What does biotin do for you?

To begin with it acts as a catalyst or a coenzyme when food or carbohydrates is being converted into energy in the body. It also helps the body with its metabolism, by regulating the breakdown of essentials fats and proteins. They help the nervous system function properly. “Help” is used because they are one of the many minerals and enzymes that go into the proper functioning of the human body. They make enough of a difference for their deficiency to be felt in daily life. For instance if you feel uncharacteristically lethargic or dull all the time, it could be because your energy levels are flagging due to a vitamin H deficiency! Consult your doc about it! Take some biotin supplements and get back to your healthy life as soon as possible.

Also since biotin regulates your metabolism and controls the production of biochemical energy in your body, it is a great aid during your weight loss phase. So if you are consciously trying to lose weight, do take some biotin and iron supplements to keep yourself energized and healthy. Weight loss can be a trying time for the body. And weight loss without adequate guidance can be harmful. Many people have reported hair fall and sudden brittleness in nails post the weight loss phase. That’s because of the body not getting nutrition enough. So be well informed about what you are doing.

What all can biotin help you with?

Now that you have a broad idea about what all biotin does for your body, its time to work out the finer details. This section will help you decide if biotin is in anyway relevant to your way of living or your lifestyle.

Fatigue and depression

Biotin regulates breakdown of food into energy. So it keeps your energy levels from dipping and helps you combat fatigue. People suffering from depression are prescribed biotin supplements. Often depression is just a result of unstable moods and frustration with the self. Biotin keeps your body healthy and adequately satiated in terms of nutrients. There is lesser reason to lose control. But biotin can’t influence your emotional or psychological well being.

Dry skin and thinning hair

If you have dry, flaky skin or are losing hair rapidly, a daily biotin supplement can immediately arrest hair fall. It starts with giving your skin and hair very well deserved nutrition and helps in strengthening the hair’s cortex. It keeps your skin sift and supple. Sometimes what we mistake as dandruff is just dryness of scalp or minor eruptions on it. All of it can be taken care of by biotin. The dosage will vary across age groups though.

Pregnancy and lactating women

Pregnancy is the time when your body is undergoing a lot many changes. It is for heaven’s sake making space for another human body inside yours. So you need all the nutrition that you can get. That doesn’t mean you have to start eating for two people. It just means that you have to eat enough to ensure that both you and the baby get adequate nutrition.

How will that happen? Well it will happen if you can ensure that whatever food that you are eating is being converted to energy and reaching your kid and you. And biotin helps with this! But take biotin in the form of a B-complex supplement. That will have all the eight B vitamins and some folic acid too. This will ensure that there is a balanced ecosystem in your body for the baby.

Brittle nails and hair fall

A lot of people complain of hair fall these days. It may be due to weather conditions, quality of water used to wash hair or due to hereditary or genetic factors. Sometimes it’s also because of your hair and nails not receiving due nutrition. Hair follicles need oxygen from the bone marrow to be healthy. Clear and pink nails are the sign on good health. And all this is possible when your blood gets nutrition. That to a large extent depends on the amount of biotin in your body! Since biotin helps with nutrition and energy reaching all cells, it plays a role in growing healthy hair and nails too.

Peripheral neuropathy

Some people may have nerve damage in their hands and feet due to diabetes or ongoing dialysis treatment. Some of the symptoms are numbness and tingling in the hands, legs or feet, muscle fatigue and difficulty in walking. Biotin supplements have been known to improve the symptoms of this disorder. There have been no conformed studies on this though.

Biotin deficiency

This is rather rare! Biotin deficiency is a little difficult to come across because intestinal bacteria produce it in excess of daily requirement. No don’t be alarmed. Biotin is water soluble and the unused portion gets removed from the body via urine or sweat. But in case of a biotin deficiency which may be the result of your body not being able to absorb biotin, you need to see a doctor who will prescribe a biotin supplement amongst other things.

Another thing to note here is that since the excess biotin is excreted out of the body, there really is no fear of a biotin over dose. Many health institutions don’t have a set dosage for biotin for that precise reason. Also there are no side effects to excess biotin. It will get metabolized or removed from your system.

Now you have a quite clear picture of what biotin can do for you. But as with any thing new for your body, do consult your doc before you take this head on.

If you want to have healthier hair, there are a plethora of supplements out there to help you out. It’s hard to know what works and what doesn’t, though. Lucky for you, I have the top 5 hair supplements that are sure to give you all of the results you’re looking for. I know I certainly benefited from them.

Biotin

B vitamins are essential for energy production. You can’t metabolize anything without them. B12 is common for energy problems in older people, but biotin is now understood to be incredibly beneficial.

Biotin, or B7, is one of the most important supplements for hair, nail, and skin health. Just take a look at any hair supplement and you’ll no doubt see biotin listed. A deficiency of biotin will be noticeable in the form of hair breakage, loss, and thinning. Since B vitamins aren’t stored in your body, you’ll have to make sure that you continuously take it in through supplements.

Of course, you could eat more vegetables, eggs, and whole grains to get biotin, but a supplement containing 100mcg, when taken each day, will do a much better job.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an incredibly important vitamin. It isn’t just another one of Doctor Oz’s crazy weekly hot-must-have supplements. Vitamin D is something that your body can produce on its own, but you have to have ample sunlight to do it. Most people have a deficiency of Vitamin D for that same reason, though.

A Vitamin D deficiency can cause depression, hair loss, and a load of other health problems. Even if you think you get sunlight during the day, if you have a problem with these, you might need a little extra.

It comes in most multi vitamins that you’ll find in doses that are anywhere from 1,000iu to just 50iu. The recommended dose is 600IU each day, but if you are trying to make up for a deficiency you can take up to 10,000IU a day for a week to get your system back in order.

Lysine

This is one of the building blocks that make up the proteins that your body craves so badly. Your hair is made up of proteins. Get it? You don’t often see people who have a deficiency in lysine, but boosting your intake can help in any case. If you do have a deficiency, you’ll see it in the form of anemia, hair loss, or weight loss.

One to one and a half grams is a healthy dose of lysine and you can find it in fish, whole grains, eggs, meat, and more. If you would like to make your hair healthier and longer, you should be taking it in the form of a supplement, however.

If you decide to go the supplement route, you should be taking 1000mg each day. Most people recommend using it for up to 6 months before taking a break. Make sure you also take iron as well, since it aids the absorption of lysine and makes sure that it is effective.

Calcium

Everybody knows that calcium is important for healthy bones, but what else does it do? It turns out, calcium is important to the reproduction of cells in almost every important part of your body. That includes hair production.

Calcium also controls hormone releases, which can affect your hair loss further. A deficiency will result in a loss in both bone mass and hair. You can prevent this by eating a proper diet filled with dairy products, but ideally you should be taking a calcium supplement if you are at risk.

1,000mg daily is what you should be taking. Many multi vitamins include it already, but you should take it on its own if you are concerned about your hair health, bone density, or all around daily diet.

Arginine

Arginine is one of the biggest amino acids when it comes to a variety of health conditions. Nitric oxide production, which arginine helps in, keeps your metabolism flowing, your heart pumping, and your energy high.

Arginine dilates your blood vessels and helps get your nutrients where they need to go. That dilation also means that your hair follicles can produce healthy, long, beautiful hair.

Like all of these other options, arginine can be found in dietary additions. Most prominently, beef, poultry, and milk. If you want to really enhance your hair, though, you’ll have to once again turn to supplements.

Dosage-wise, you can take up to 20 grams a day. 5-10 seems to be the sweet spot for most people, though. I would suggest starting there in the form of several doses throughout the day, including protein shakes (which also include arginine.)

Try these out one at a time. If you start taking everything imaginable, you won’t know which one actually works. Once you start seeing results, I’m sure you’ll be glad you took the time to figure out what was best for you.

Hair loss is becoming a major concern in our fast paced lifestyle, especially in professions where keeping your looks in order is important. But profession or not, who doesn’t want a head full of great hair! Hair loss can be caused by a variety of reasons! Sometimes it’s just due to heredity or genetic factors. Other reasons maybe stress, an unhealthy diet or an unhealthy lifestyle, smoking and drinking, or excessive use of hair styling products. Hair loss can also be a symptom of some grave underlying diseases such as hypothyroidism, medications, or improper hormone functioning, obesity or vitamin deficiencies. Keep reading to know what you can do to stop hair loss.

There are two main known methods of battling hair loss. Here they are pitched against one another so that you can decide what works best for you. They are Rogaine and Biotin.

What should you know about Rogaine?

Rogaine is how minoxidil is marketed. Initially it was used as a blood pressure lowering drug, but had an interesting side effect. It induced hair growth! Now Rogaine is FDA approved for promoting hair growth. In some cases it may lead to darkening of hair too. It is available as an OTC topical ointment now. But if it has been prescribed by your doc, then chances are that you have been asked to take biotin supplements too.

Rogaine may have some side effects that you need to keep in mind before opting for this product. These are rather mild in intensity. You may experience sudden weight gain, redness or irritation on the scalp where you apply it, and in rare cases palpitations or dizziness. Get in touch with your doctor over your concern for these.

What should you know about Biotin?

Biotin is also known as vitamin H. it is responsible for healthy hair and nails. It regulates your blood sugar as it works directly with the conversion of carbohydrates and fats to glucose.

Biotin is great for overall health of the body and during weight loss periods too as an aid to weight loss. Since it helps with the conversion of what we eat to biochemical energy, it ensures that all parts of your body gets a part of the nutrition. So your hair follicles get adequate nutrition and the cortex of your hair is strengthened.

Biotin has been known to arrest hair fall immediately and with prolonged use has also stimulated the growth of new hair follicles.

Verdict

Given that one of them is used as a medicine that is it has been synthesized in a lab and the other is a naturally occurring vitamin, biotin is recommended as the tool of choice to re grow your hair. It’s safe and has no side effects. Also it benefits the whole body and gives you a chance at a healthy lifestyle. But before you go ahead with any of these, do consult your doc and understand what you are getting into.

Hair loss or hair fall is a huge problem with many these days, gender no bar. And people all over the world have started resorting to hair transplants and other forms of invasive treatment to see differences. After all who wouldn’t want to have a head full of thick, lustrous hair! But what if you could grow back your hair by just tweaking your diet a little here and there? Unbelievable, eh? But it’s very much a possibility, in fact over the last couple of years, science and doctors are increasingly giving credit to this secret vitamin that helps with bringing your hair back. Some en say that there nails have become stronger!

What is this secret vitamin?

Ever heard of the Vitamin H? It’s also known as biotin and more or less helps with all the functions of the human body. It is needed so that the body can easily make use of carbohydrates, fats and proteins that you take in. in fact, the production of biochemical energy in your body is due to this vitamin! It acts as a catalyst or a coenzyme in energy production cycles. In short it boosts your metabolism, controls sugar levels in your body and is overall great for general health.

Also if you are trying to lose weight, then biotin might help you achieve that svelte figure faster. Since it helps with energy production and metabolism, this is a good thing to have in your diet. Start taking a biotin supplement if you are trying to lose weight.

What’s biotin’s linked to healthy hair?

Biotin deficiency has no direct relation to hair loss or unhealthy hair. But a good amount of this vitamin in the body does manifest itself as thick and lustrous hair. In fact when people have complained of hair loss and they have been started on biotin supplements, it has been shown to arrest hair fall. And with continued use has even stimulated new hair growth.

So how does this happen?

Biotin helps with keeping your hair follicles healthy. Since it helps with the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates, proteins in the body, it ensures that all parts of the body are given that nutrition. If you have lustrous skin, them somewhere down the line, biotin is responsible for it. It helps against flaky and dry scalp. It also increases the elasticity of the hair and strengthens the hair cortex.

What are the sources of biotin?

Egg yolks and liver are the richest sources of biotin. But they are also found in green leafy vegetables, cereals, milk and dairy products, and colored vegetables. Beef also has this vitamin in a prominent quantity. But if you are a vegan, then its time to start taking a biotin supplement.

So the secret ingredient is not really secret. It’s a vitamin that is available in nature and is part of a well balanced and nutritious diet. Therefore for healthy hair, have a well balanced diet and exercise regularly.

Apart from obesity, scanty hair or hair fall is one of the many problems plaguing mankind today. And like obesity, the solution to hair fall lies in what you eat or rather whatever goes inside your body. The parallels are to make you see the deeper connection between what you are and what you eat. So it will not come as a surprise when you come to know that vitamin B12 has actually helped a lot of people overcome the hair problem. Let’s work our way to why there is hair loss in seemingly healthy people and if Vitamin B12 really does help with it.

What causes hair fall?

Hair fall or slower hair growth can be attributed to a number of reasons.

Environmental factors such as air pollution and water pollution, stress

Genetic or hereditary factors.

Insufficient nutrition or deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals in the body.

Certain drugs and treatment that have led to adverse reactions in the body. Sometimes weight loss products lead to hair loss.

Cosmetic treatment of hair

A peek into what vitamin B12 and what it does for your body

Vitamin B12 is one of the eight B vitamins and is also known as cobalamin. It is a water soluble vitamin that is responsible for the formation of blood. It is also required for the proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system. As you grow older more of the vitamin is required in your body, especially for pregnant and lactating women. It is absorbed in your body with the help of hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor that are made in your stomach.

Vitamin B12 is found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, breakfast cereals, oats, rye and other products that have been fortified with vitamin B12. To specifically buy such foods, check the nutritional label.

How does vitamin B12 help with hair growth?

An important property of vitamin B12 is that they help in cell replication and DNA formation. There are a lot more vitamins and minerals, required for these processes, but B12 does play an important role here. A deficiency of vitamin B12 may mean difficulties in DNA formation or cell replication. The human hair follicles require this vitamin so that they can replicate properly and grow hair effectively. Also since cobalamin is responsible for the formation of red blood cells, a deficiency may mean that the RBCs don’t take in proper oxygen. The hair follicles again suffer in this regard as they don’t get proper nutrition from the blood stream. This gives rise to hair fall, brittle and breakage prone hair, very slow hair growth or none at all and other hair related issues.

If you have been having problems with hair growth ask your doctor to check if you are suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency. Then focus on correcting its levels in the body. But in any case start with vitamin B12 supplements immediately. There are no adverse effects of this water soluble vitamin.

Simply known as Vitamin H or B7, Biotin is nothing but a water soluble vitamin. It is ideally deemed extremely significant and healthy for hair and nails. Researches over several years have established that Biotin works by regulating the cell metabolism of the body as it metabolizes amino acids and carbohydrates; thereby, converting them into nutrients which in turn provide energy to your body.

Biotin is generally found in eggs, almonds, sardines, whole grain foods and pecans. Dryness of hair and weakness in the nails are some symptoms signifying lack of Biotin in your body. In order to maintain the healthy nature of your nails and hair, one must ensure a balanced level of Biotin in body. There are several kinds of Biotin supplements also available in market these days. However, it is important to maintain a moderate intake of Biotin supplements, so as to sustain the required nutritional value of Vitamin H and B7 in your body.

Appropriate Dosage of Biotin

There are several studies to show that any extra dose of Biotin, over and beyond the required value can cause side effects as well. Further, it has also been reported by these studies that people suffering from lack of Biotin in their body can take aid of the Biotin supplements; however, avoiding any prolonged use of the same. In other words, once the requisite Biotin level is retained in the body, one must stop external consumption of the same so as to avoid any form of side effects.

The ideal amount of Biotin intake is considered to be 5000 Mcg which is equivalent to 5 mg. However, this quantity generally varies depending upon the age of the person. For instance, in the case of Biotin deficiency in kids, it is generally advised to have around 10 to 20 Mcg of Biotin.

Biotin5000McgSideEffects

Even though Biotin 5000 Mcg is supposed to be an ideal dosage of Biotin, this may even result in certain side effects to several people. Following are some of the probable side effects of Biotin5000 Mcg, as have been reported earlier in several cases:

AllergicReaction:This is one of the side effects of taking Biotin 5000 Mcg, especially for people with extremely sensitive skin. They can experience skin eruptions at any part of the body and even itchiness or rashes. Chest and throat tightening are also reported side effects with people suffering from cobalt allergy. Such people are generally advised against intake of any level of Biotin.

AdverseEffectsonBloodGlucose:Biotin is one of the essential nutrients for regulating formation of glucose and fatty acids in the body. Therefore, Biotin 5000 Mcg, if deemed to be too excessive for a person, may lead to high sugar levels in the body. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes must be extra careful before taking Biotin 5000 Mcg.

EosinophilicPleuropericardialEffusion: Eosinophilic Pleuropericardial effusion can be a life threatening situation if Biotin is taken in excessive quantities. This is a major pulmonary infection which takes place when blood and air enter the lungs through the pleural cavity space. However, such an extreme side effect of Biotin 5000 Mcg is rarely observed.

Before you start taking Biotin 500 Mcg, don’t forget to consult the specialist to avoid any side effects or worsening of the situation.

Biotin is better known as vitamin H or coenzyme R. it plays a large role in the production of biochemical energy in your body and is also necessary for cell growth, and metabolism of fats and amino acids. It also helps with maintaining a healthy sugar level in the body. Biotin is found in peanuts, leafy green veggies, raw egg yolk and liver. Most people consume biotin as supplements because no one source is particularly rich in this resource! Biotin deficiency is rare but may cause hair fall, dermatitis, and conjunctivitis.

That was the gist of what biotin can or cannot do. Now let’s focus a little in detail on some lump sum benefits of biotin.

The biotin metabolic benefits

Biotin produces glucose in the body by converting carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is unusually helpful in weight loss efforts as it regulates the production of energy in the body and keeps your metabolism on track. In fact, during an intended weight losing phase, a biotin supplement will do you good and help you lose weight faster. If you have optimum levels of biotin in your body, all kinds of food will be processed quickly.

The biotin hair and nail benefits

You may start feeling that every vitamin is being linked to hair and nail well being these days. Well it’s but true! How healthy or unhealthy you are reflects very clearly in your nail and hair. Brittle hair and nails may show malnutrition, obesity or just a much impeded health. Similarly shiny lustrous hair and healthy nails may reflect inner health and well being.

In fact if you look a little deeper, biotin helps with the growth of healthy hair. It has also been used to treat baldness and hair fall along with other medicines. Also a shampoo containing biotin will save you the dandruff heart break and keep your scalp happy and healthy.

Biotin deficiency doesn’t directly affect hair and nail growth or health. But since it’s a catalyst in other body functions, good levels of biotin will help with these as well. And good health will reflect on hair and nails the fastest.

The biotin general health benefits

After having read till here, it’s but obvious that you know that biotin has benefits for your whole body. It’s a part of the huge B vitamin family and hence works for the entire body. It also keeps your sugar levels down. B12 is responsible for the production of glucose and thus regulates your blood sugar intelligently. Biotin also keeps your sweat glands, bone marrow and nerve tissues in top working condition.

Here’s a tip apart from all this. If you are trying to lose weight and feel fatigued and lethargic after your exercise sessions, then it’s probably a biotin deficiency. Take a daily biotin supplement to aid your weight loss process and see results immediately. If you are suffering from any other health condition, then just consult your doc before you go ahead with this.